“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Heb. 12:1.
Our text admonishes Christians to “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Many times those weights are simple distractions that create enormous drag. One preacher illustrated it this way: “It’s perfectly legal to run a race in army boots.” He said it wasn’t wise and would guarantee failure, but you can legally do it. Many of the things that prevent spiritual growth and development are legal, they just don’t lead to success.
Removing wrong attitudes and actions from our lives will not occur accidentally. We must decide to change — to remove, to lay aside, and to put away attitudes and actions that don’t please God and adversely affect our walk of faith The word “lay aside every weight.” was particularly used in the athletic world to signify the actions of an athlete who would deliberately strip himself of excess weight before participating in a competition. This stripping process included the loss of excess flesh through dieting and exercise. Then on the day of the actual competition, he stripped off nearly all his clothes so no extra weight would slow him down. He had his eye on the prize, so he was determined to strip off all “weight” that might potentially keep him from being the best athlete he could be.
This sends a strong message to us! If we want to please God, satisfy ourselves, and do something significant with our lives, we have to choose to remove anything from our lives that would hinder those objectives. The athlete of the ancient world didn’t become “unweighted” by accident. He dropped all excess weight on purpose. He dieted; he exercised; and he shed every other unnecessary weight he could find to shed. This stripping process demanded his attention, his decision, and his devotion. It wasn’t going to happen by accident, so he had to initiate the process of removal. What if those athletes had tried to run their race with loads of extra weight? They certainly wouldn’t have been able to run very far! This is exactly what sinful habits and attitudes do to your walk with the Lord. If you don’t remove them, they will eventually weigh you down and knock you out of your race of faith! God bless you, happy new month.
FURTHER READING:
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 1 Cor. 9:24.
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Eph. 4:22.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, thank You for your mercies and grace, thank You for another month. Father, You spoke into nothingness and created the world. I speak into this day and declare that this month will cooperate with Your plans for my life. Anything sent to frustrate Your purposes for this day is bound now in the name of Jesus and rendered ineffective. I declare that today is pregnant with possibilities. Thank You, Father, for divine connections that advance Your purpose for my life in the name of Jesus, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
1 Sam. 6:1-21.
1 Sam. 6:1-21.
1 Sam. 8:1-22.
1 Sam. 9:1-27.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“Your Life Does Not Get Better By Chance, It Gets Better By Choice.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria.
